Package strapping seal-joints



' July 12, 1932 J. w. LESLIE 1,865,894

PACKAGE STRAPPING SEAL JOINTS Filed March 9, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 12, 1932 J. w. LESLIE PACKAGE STRAPPING' SEAL JINTS Filed March 9, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lesfz'e July 12, 1932. J. W, ESUE 1,866,894

PACKAGE STRAPPING SEAL JOINTS Filed March 9, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN W. LESLIE, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, 'ASSIGNOR TO SIGNODE STEEL STRAPPING COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF :DIELAWAIRIEI PACKAGE STRAPPING SEAL-JOINTS Application led March 9,

. My invention relates to package strapping seal-joints.

It relates particularly to seal-joints especially adapted for joining together two metal straps or overlapping portions of one strap employed to reenforce or tie a widejvariety of packages, such as boxes, bales and the like.

Heretofore such seal-joints ordinarily have been produced by embracing the overlapping strap portions with a metal sleeve and then simultaneously deforming the sleeve.I and strap in various ways so 'as to bring about a separation resisting relationship between the sleeve and overlapped strap por-v tions. Attempts have been made to produce the seal-joints without using the embracing sleeve but such sleeveless joints have been open to one or more of the following objections. -Excessive power is required to produce them; in order to possess much strength it is necessary to make them too long for general application (particularly objectionable on small ackages) they have not been as flat as is esirable; their formation tends to weaken the strap where it should be the strongest; there is an undesirable limitation in the sizes of strap which can .be formed into such joints; and the tools required to produce them have been unduly complicated.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved seal-joint for securing together .overlapping portions of package binding and banding strap.

Another object is to provide an improved sleeveless joint.

Another object is to provide a joint which can be quickly and easily made. v

A further object is to provide a joint which is relatively short, flat and strong.

Another object 1s to provide a joint which can be produced in a wide variety of strap widths.

Another object is to provide a joint which can be made by a tool of relatively simple and inexpensive construction.

Another object is to provide a joint which does not materially weaken the adjoining strap.

A' further object is the provision. of a new 1931. Serial No. 521,166.

method by which such a seal-joint may be made.

Other objects and advantages will hereini after appear.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top or front plan view of an improved sleeveless sea'l-joint interconnecting two strap ends;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionV on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the'line 4-4 of Fig. l; j

Fig. 5 is a perspective section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of two portions of strapping positioned in overlappin relation for illustrating the first step o the method of forming my im roved seal-joint;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 -7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the edges of the strapping material partially bent inwardly, illustrating a further ste in the process of forming the joint;

ig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is 'a perspective view of portions of strapping at a later stage in the production of the joint;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a top plan of a modified type of seal-joint embodying my invention;

Fig. 13 is' an enlarged perspective view of the mid-portion ofthe modified joint; and

Fig. 14 is a cross sectionon the line 14-14 of Fig. l2.

Referring first to Fi s. 1 to 5 inclusive, the linished sealfjoint pre erably comprises two overlapping portions of metal strapping 8 `and 9,'the longitudinal margins of w ich are tightly folded inwardly toward the package and laterally ltoward each other and one or more abrupt indentations or deformations 10, prefera ly extending inwardly from the outer or top surface of the folded strap portions, which provide interengaging offset lugs or edges, the interlocking of which prevents longitudinal separation and which are rel straps, in a localized or restricted region, are

downwardly or inwardly and laterally bent or folded along their margins as successively indicated in Figs. 9 andll and the depressions 10 are formed in the upper or outer surface of the strap portion 8 whereby the lugs 11 are struck inwardly therefrom, as better indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. These depressions may be so abrupt and deep as to transversel slit the metal. The formation of these lugs epresses portions 12 of the inner or under strap portion 9 and thereby form depressions or openings in the inner strap portion, the lateral edges of which constitute interlocking shoulders or edges 13 which engage shoulders or edges 14 formed by the offset ends of the lugs 11.

Fig. 10 shows one of the intermediate stages .in the formation of the seal-joint which is not yet quite completely folded wherein the depressed lugs 11 have not assumed their final position, as in Fig. 4. Referring again to- Figs. 4 and 5, the edges of the inner strap are slightly spaced as indicated at 15 and the edges 16 ofthe outer strap portion substantially envelop the inner portion and are firmly pressed thereon with su h .force that the inner strap portion is tightl folded upon 'itself as indicated at 17, leaving very small spaces, if any, at 18, where the edges of the inner portion are rebent upon themselves.

Between the depressed element 11, the intermediate ortion 21 of the inner strap is retained substantially in its original position to support and reenforce the shoulders 13 in firm engagement with t-he shoulders 14 on the elements 11. Similarly, portions 22 outside of the depressed lugs are retained in substantially the original position, thereby aiding in the formation of a plurality of complementary interlocking relatively de ressed' and elevated portions spaced along t e longitudinal axis of the joint.

The lugs 11 are preferably spaced substantially along the longitudinal airisy of the seal and serve the purpose of transferring tensional stress from one strap portion to the other. The substantially edge to edge engagement between these lugs or tongues and the ends of the depressions in the inner or lower strap portion constitutes the rinci al tension resisting components of t e joint. They also prevent relative longitudinal movement of the strap portions 8 and 9, which movement would otherwise cause the innery strap 9 at the curved portion 35 (see Fig. 2) to wedge apart the similarly curved portion 36 of the strap 8 and open the joint laterally as well as longitudinally. And the opening or unfolding of the joint laterally would seriously reduce the effectiveness of the edge to edge engagement heretofore mentioned. Thus the folding of the overlapping strap portions and the interlocking of the offset edges of the deformations therein cooperate to insure a strong and lasting seal-joint; each contributes materially to the proper functioning of the other. The lugs may be so abruptly and deeply indented as to be transversely severed or sheared from the body of the outer strap portion. Preferably, hcwever, they remain integral with the body of the strap along their outer longitudinal edges. By this construction the lugs are exceedingly rigid and strong. The mid portions of the lugs are held against twisting because of the support afforded by the tightly engaging depressed portions 12 of the inner strap and by the edges or shoulders 13 against which they laterally abut. In this manner the tensional strength of the joint is greatly increased. 'v

Figs. l2 to 14 illustrate a modified type of seal-joint wherein the deformations to provide the edge to edge interlocking shoulders in the overlapping folded strap are located in the lateral margins of the strap in the folded region. In this modified construction the outer or to strap portion 8 and the inner or bottom strap portion 9 are folded together substantially in the manner heretofore described. 'The lugs or projections l1 are struck from the opposite margins of the in- 'terfolded strap and preferably bent inward or downward toward the package so as to provide, at the transverse marginal slits therein, edges or shoulders 14 which are offset so as to abut the complementary edges or shoulders 13 of the depressions or slot-like openings in the inner strap portion.

The action of the coacting elements of this modified joint are essentially the same as the action of the corresponding elements of the joint heretofore described. The primary function of the tightly interfolded strap sections is to insure the proper edge to edge engagement or interlock between the relatively offset elements of the overlapping strap portions and the major function of those offset elements is to resist the longitudinal strain in the strap and prevent the joint from opening longitudinally or in the direction of that strain.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention and I therefore desire to avail myself of such modications as come within the claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of seal-joining overlapping portions of metal straps which consists in deforming the same by rtightly folding together the .edges and forming complementary interlocking edge to edge abutting shoulders in the strap portions in the folded region.

2. The method of seal-joining overlapping portions of metal straps which consists in locally deforming the overlapping portions by tightly folding together the edges thereof and forming transverse complementary interlocking edge vto edge shoulders in the strap portions in the folded region.

3. A seal-joint comprising overlapping metal straps', portions of said straps being laterally folded together so that the edges of one strap are folded back against that strap and the other strap tightly embraces the first mentioned strap,'and said straps being deformed in the folded region to 'provide edge to edge abutting shoulders lying transversely of the straps.

4. A strap seal-joint comprising two overlapping strap portions, said strap portions being laterally folded together throughout a part of their lengths so that the inner strap portion is folded upon itself and the outer strap portion embraces the inner strap portion and said strap portions being deformed to provide a plurality of sets of edge to edge shoulders which interlock `transversely to the direction ofthe length of the strap portions.

5. A seal-joint for strappingj comprising two overlapping portions of metal strap forming the seal, one portion having a len th of its edges rebent into substantially abutting scope of the appended relation, and the other portion havin aA length of its ed es bent to embrace the rst said portion an pressed iatwise thereupon, and a plurality of longitudinallyspaced sets of laterally extending edge to edge interlocking shoulders on the said strapportions.

6. A seal-joint for metal strappin comprising two overlapping portions o' strap locally folded together laterally into a tight flat relationship, the strap` portions havlng tongues struck therefrom in the folded region, the tongue struck from the outer strap portion being offset to make ed e to edge contact with the lateral edges of te innerstrap portion Where the tongue is struck therefrom.

7. A seal-joint for uniting overlapping straps comprising two meta straps positioned in overlapping relation, marginal portions of one strap being locally'return bent and compressed 'la-twise and rmly upon that strap, marginal edges of the other strap extending around and being returnl bent atwise and snugly upon the bent 'ortion of first mentioned strap and an offset ug on one strap extending integrally with that strap laterally and into the plane of the other strap to effect an edge to edge interlock therewith.

8. A seal-joint for metal strapping comprising two overlapping metalf straps, portions of the margins of .said straps being conjointly deformed inwardly and laterally flatwise upon the body of the straps whereby the deformed marginal portions of one strap substantially envelop the other strap, and interlocking lugs struck from the body of the straps and offset in a direction transverse to the length of the straps so as to form shoulders making Contact edge to edge with the other strap.

9. Ascal-joint for overlapping portions of metal strap comprising the overlapping portions of strap, and a lug struck from one strap portion to project into ay depression in the other strap portion, the edges of the lug and of said depression constituting edge to edge interlocking shoulders transverse to the direction of strain and the overlapping strap portions being tightly folded together to prevent lateral separation and thereby retain the shoulders in interlocking relation to resist longitudinal strain.

10. A strapping seal-j oint comprising overlapping strap portions, and a projection struck from one of the strapportions and extending into a depression which it forms in the other strap portion, the lateral edges of the projection and the lateral margins of said depression constituting interlocking shoulders which resist longitudinal separation of the overlapping strap portions and the overlapping strap portions being tightly folded together laterally of their length, such folding serving to insure the interlock between said shoulders.

l1. A strapping seal-j oint comprising over lapping strap portions having their edges in a Irestricted region tightly and flatly folded inwardly and laterally toward each other and 'the outer portion embracing the inner portion, and a lug depressed inwardly from the outer strap portion into a depression in the adjacent surface of the inner strap portion, the lateral edges of the lug and depression forming interlocking abrupt shoulders which resist longitudinal relative movement between the overlapping strap portions and which are retained in such interlocking relationship by the strap folds. v

12. A strapping seal-joint comprising overlapping strap portions having their edges in a restricted region tightly and ilatly-folded inwardly and laterally toward each other and the outer portion embracing the inner portion, and a projection struck fromvone portion and extending into a complementary depression in the other porti6n,'the lateral edges of the lug and depression being relatively oii'set to form edge to edge engagement therebetween land thereby resist strain longitudinal of the strap portions, the foldedcondition of the strap portions serving to retain the edge to edge engagement between the edges of the lu and depression. i

13. A strapping seal-joint comprising overlapping strap portions, one portion having a lug struck therefrom toward the other portion, said lug along its outer ends being integral with its strap portion but sheared therefrom along lines transverse of the strap portions and projecting into a recess in the other strap portion, its sheared edges interlocking with complementary edges of said recess to resist longitudinal separation of the overlapping strap portions, and the overlapping strap portionsbeing tightly and flatly folded together in a restricted region to retain the interlocking relationship between said lug and recess edges.

14. A seal-joint comprising overlapping strap portions, opposite edgesl of which are crimped inwardly to provide interlock between the portions, lthe overlapping deformed portions being provided with a transverse slit, the metal on either side of the slit being relatively displaced to provide interlock opposing longitudinal separation.V

15. A seal joint comprising overlapping strap portions, opposite edges .of which are crim ed inwardly so that one strap portion enve opes the other to resist lateral separation, the overlapping deformed portions being provided with a transverse slit, the metal on either side of the' slit being relatively displaced to provide interlock resisting longitudinal separation.

16. A seal-joint comprising overlapping strap portions, opposite edges of which are crimped inwardly over a substantial length to provide interlock -between the portions, the overlapping portions being provided at a location substantially within the deformed portion, with a transverse slit, the metal on either side of the slit being relatively displaced to provide interlock opposing longitudinal separation. A

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 4th day of March, 1931.

J O HN W. LESLIE. 

